MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball freshman catcher Morgan Lutticken recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss what's the biggest things she learned this fall that she'll take heading into the spring, a strength she feels she brings to the team and what her favorite place on campus is, among other topics.
Lutticken comes to South Alabama after lettering four seasons at Potway High School in Potway, Calif., where she was a starter for the Titans since her freshman season. As a senior, set the single-season walk record at Potway with 27 and posted a .345 batting average over her four-year prep career. She was named to the 2015 San Diego Tribune all-academic team.
What kind of an impact do you hope to make on the team this season?
"I'm really hoping to have a positive impact and I want to bring a lot of energy to our team atmosphere. Our team is filled with bunch of hard workers and every single person is a leader and a go-getter. We are looking to go really far this year. I just want to help everyone keep a steady mentality throughout the whole season."
What has the fall season been like for you?
"You come in here thinking you know a lot about softball. I've been playing the game since I was five-years old. You come here though and you realize there's so much you don't know about the game. It's a lot quicker and you learn a lot about the strength component and mental side of the game. This fall has been getting to know new people, adjusting to adversities and learning how to adjust well. As far as school, it hasn't been that big of an adjustment for me. I came from a good school back in Poway [Calif.] so classes here have been similar to there."
What was the biggest thing you learned this fall that you will take with you heading into the spring?
"I would say to keep your head on straight. You can't let a failure be a failure. You have to take it as another opportunity to get better. The mental side of the game is the main thing we've been working on this fall. You can fix a physical mistake and work on fundamentals, but you have to figure out the mental side on your own. You can talk about all you want, but you have to make the adjustment yourself because no one can do that for you."
How has the adjustment of playing so far away from home been?
"Where I'm from in southern California, it's really competitive and there is a lot of drive for players to go to a good Division-I college. Coming here to a top 25 program, it's not really that different. We are all pushing each other every day and grinding it out together as a team. You feel more unified because of what you go through together as a team. If anything, it has enhanced what we worked on in California, but we're just doing it at a higher level here."
Being from California, what has been the biggest difference you have noticed living her in Alabama?
"In California, it's a really artistic environment. Everyone is artistic in some way or another, whether it's in writing, technology or their graffiti work; there's art surrounding you everywhere you go. The beach is a good outlet for people, but you also have the mountains with the snow and the desserts. You can get all the different aspects of life there as far as environment.
"Here, it's a lot flatter and the humidity is definitely a big change. People out here are very sweet, sincere and genuinely care about your day when they ask you how you're doing."
What do you feel is a strength that you bring to the team and why?
"I think I have good leadership skills and a good mentality. I feel I am mentally strong. I've always been one who believes you need to push hard constantly and work at your very best every time you get the opportunity to do be on the field, because it really is a gift to be able to go out and compete and play at this level because so many people dream of being here. I also believe in having fun as a group and I believe I bring a fun, competitive aspect to the game."
What is one area of your game that you are looking at improving in this season and why?
"I'm really looking to improve my speed and strength as well as pushing towards not being too hard on myself and not letting adversities take their toll. I just want to work on staying neutral in situations and taking everything as an opportunity to get better and learn from it."
Is there a teammate of yours who you look up to?
"That's a really hard question because this team is built on leaders and every-single person is a leader and I honestly look up to every-single person on this team. A few of them have already been mentioned in the other interviews this fall and there are several people that just stand out on this team. Being a catcher, the ones that I really look up to are Taylor [Stevens] and Dayla [Gulledge]. They are constantly hustling, talking it up and pumping people up, as well as giving pointers. It's fun to go out when we are catching and putting in extra work because we are competitive and having fun while we are doing it. It's great to have people like that who bring positivity to your life as well as pushing you to better yourself."
Why did you choose to come to South Alabama?
"I wanted to go [to college] far from home because I wanted to try something new. I'm a big believer of getting out of your comfort zone to find yourself and that's why I wanted to go far away. When I came on my visit to South, I realize that the South is a really great environment to immerse yourself into. Coach [Becky] Clark has set up an amazing program here. I get along with every girl on this team; we all really click well with each other. The coaching staff is amazing and the school is great. Everyone is all about pride here and it's a perfect home-away-from-home."
What type of player can fans expect to see out on the field when they watch you play?
"You can expect to see a player who is always smiling and having fun, but at the same time one who is competitive. I'm constantly talking on the field, because that helps get the jitters out and also helps keep your team involved. I'll bring a lot of energy, but at the same time be focused constantly."
What are you majoring in at South Alabama and what do you plan to do after graduation?
"I'm currently majoring in biology and I'm leaning towards going into forensics because that field is extremely interesting to me. Next semester I'm taking a business class and some criminal justice classes to see if I want to go that route. I'm not entirely sure what I want to do in life. I just want to find a setting where I can work with and help people and be creative."
What is one interesting thing that Jaguar fans may not know about you?
"I'm an old-soul. I love listening to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Guns 'N Roses, Black Sabbath, all of the greats. Whenever I have free time, I go and listen to them back in my dorm. I'm also really into art, photography, drawing, painting and all that stuff. I've never taken any art classes, so it's all self-taught for the most part. I just like being creative, whatever aspect you get that through."
Do you have a favorite place on campus?
"I love our locker room, because there's always something going on, whether it's blasting music before a game, working out skits or just sitting around watching TV and making jokes or telling stories. That's the place where there's no stress and everyone can just be together as a family and let lose."
What does it mean to you to be a Jaguar?
"Being a Jaguar brings a lot of pride. Being a student-athlete here at South, we are held to a certain standard. Whenever we are walking around campus people sometimes do a double-take when they see us and you remember how fortunate you are to be in this situation. I'm always proud when I have the chance to explain why I chose to come here and how great our team is. They mean so much to me, both the coaching staff and players; they're now family and it's really neat."
What is your favorite type of music to listen to?
"I listen to everything. I listen to old stuff because me and my dad jam out to that. Abby [Krzyweicki] and I listen to 'hippy music'. We just find weird things on Spotify and SoundCloud. I do listen to country music contrary to popular belief that Californians don't listen to country music. I really listen to it all. It just depends on my mood and whether I'm pumped up or mellow."
What is your favorite memory that you have had so far playing softball?
"I would say winning the CIF [California Interscholastic Federation] Open Division my junior year and finishing as runners up my senior season. That was the greatest accomplishment for us because we had worked so hard to get there and not many people thought we would be able to do that.
"We aren't really able to have a state tournament in California because it would go into the summer and interfere with travel ball. CIF is essentially where you break the counties down. In San Diego county from where I'm from softball is so good that they made an open division which is the higher than Division I. They take the top eight teams in the entire county and it's very competitive. That was by far the most exciting moment. It was also held on our prom night so our dates showed up to the game in tuxedos and sat in the stands while we were playing."
What's your favorite form of social media?
"I just use Instagram. I don't use anything else. The only reason I use Instagram is because it's where I can post my photos that I take and some of my art. Otherwise, I don't even think I would use social media."
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